BI-RADS CLASSIFICATION



BI-RADS CLASSIFICATION

BI-RADS is a quality assurance tool designed to standardize mammography reporting, reduce confusion in breast imaging interpretations, and facilitate outcome monitoring.

It contains a lexicon for standardized terminology (descriptors) for mammography, breast US and MRI, aswell as Standard Reporting with Final Assessment Categories and guidelines for Follow-up and Outcome Monitoring.

It even enables you to evaluate the quality of your reporting.

Mammographic Breast Composition

Mammographic breast composition is described as follows:

1. the breast is almost entirely fat ( 75% glandular)

Architectural distortion

The normal architecture is distorted with no definite mass visible. This includes spiculations radiating from a point, and focal retraction or distortion of the edge of the parenchyma. Architectural distortion can also be an associated finding.

Focal asymmetry

This is a density that cannot be accurately described using the other shapes.

It is visible as asymmetry of tissue density with similar shape on two views, but completely lacking borders and the conspicuity of a true mass.

It could represent an island of normal breast, but its lack of specific benign characteristics may warrant further evaluation.

Additional imaging may reveal a true mass or significant architectural distortion.

Due to confusion of the term mass with the term 'density' which describes attenuation characteristics of masses, the term 'density' has been replaced with 'asymmetry'.

Calcifications

Amorphous or Indistinct Calcifications:

These are often round or 'flake' shaped calcifications that are sufficiently small or hazy in appearance that a more specific morphologic classification cannot be determined.

Coarse, Heterogeneous Calcifications:

Irregular calcifications with varying sizes and shapes that are usually larger than 0.5 mm in diameter.

Fine, Pleomorphic or Branching Calcifications:

Fine pleomorphic calcifications are more conspicuous than the amorphic forms.

They vary in sizes and shapes and are usually smaller than 0,5 mm.

Fine branching calcifications are thin, linear or curvilinear, may be discontinuous and smaller than o,5 mm.

Their appearance suggests filling in of the lumen of a duct involved irregularly by breast cancer.

Benign Calcifications:

Benign calcifications are usually larger than calcifications associated with malignancy.

They are usually coarser, often round with smooth margins and are much more easily seen.

|Final Assessment Categories |

|A negative diagnostic examination is one that is negative, with a benign or probably benign finding (BI-RADS 1, 2 or |

|3). |

|In BI-RADS 3 the radiologist prefers to establish the stability of a lesion by short term follow-up. |

|In the evaluation of your BI-RADS 3 lesions the malignancy rate should be < 2%. |

|A positive diagnostic examination is one that requires a tissue diagnosis (BI-RADS 4 and 5). |

|In BI-RADS 4 the radiologist has sufficient concern to urge a biopsy (2-95% chance of malignancy). |

|In BI-RADS 5 the chance of malignancy should be > 95% |

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BI-RADS 0

Need Additional Imaging Evaluation and/or Prior Mammograms For Comparison:

BI-RADS 0 is utilized when further imaging evaluation (e.g. additional views or ultrasound) or retrieval of prior films is required.

When additional imaging studies are completed, a final assessment is made.

Always try to avoid this category by immediately doing additional imaging or retrieving old films before reporting.

Even better to have the old films before starting the examination.

BI-RADS 1

Negative:

There is nothing to comment on.

The breasts are symmetric and no masses, architectural distortion or suspicious calcifications are present.

BI-RADS 2

Benign Finding:

Like BI-RADS 1, this is a normal assessment, but here, the interpreter chooses to describe a benign finding in the mammography report. Involuting, calcified fibroadenomas, multiple secretory calcifications, fat-containing lesions such as oil cysts, lipomas, galactoceles and mixed-density hamartomas all have characteristically benign appearances, and may be labeled with confidence.

The interpreter may also choose to describe intramammary lymph nodes, vascular calcifications, implants or architectural distortion clearly related to prior surgery, while still concluding that there is no mammographic evidence of malignancy.

BI-RADS 3

Probably Benign Finding - Initial Short-Interval Follow-Up Suggested:

A finding placed in this category should have less than a 2% risk of malignancy.

It is not expected to change over the follow-up interval, but the radiologist would prefer to establish its stability.

Lesions appropriately placed in this category include:

• Nonpalpable, circumscribed mass on a baseline mammogram (unless it can be shown to be a cyst, an intramammary lymph node, or another benign finding),

• Focal asymmetry which becomes less dense on spot compression view

• Cluster of punctate calcifications

The initial short-term follow-up is a unilateral mammogram at 6 months, then a bilateral follow-up examination at 12 months and 24 months after the initial examination.

If the findings shows no change in the follow up the final assessment is changed to BI-RADS 2 (benign) and no futher follow up is needed.

If a BI-RADS 3 lesion shows any change during follow up, it will change into a BI-RADS 4 or 5 and appropriate action should be taken.

The case on the left shows e few amorphous calcifications initially classified as BI-RADS 3.

At 12 month follow up more calcifications were noted in a cluster.

The findings were now classified as BI-RADS 4.

This proved to be DCIS with invasive carcinoma.

BI-RADS 4

Suspicious Abnormality - Biopsy Should Be Considered:

BI-RADS 4 is reserved for findings that do not have the classic appearance of malignancy but have a wide range of probability of malignancy (2 - 95%).

By subdividing Category 4 into 4A, 4B and 4C , it is encouraged that relevant probabilities for malignancy be indicated within this category so the patient and her physician can make an informed decision on the ultimate course of action.

BI-RADS 5

Highly Suggestive of Malignancy. Appropriate Action Should Be Taken:

BI-RADS 5 must be reserved for findings that are classic breast cancers, with a >95% likelihood of malignancy.

A spiculated, irregular high-density mass, a segmental or linear arrangement of fine linear calcifications or an irregular spiculated mass with associated pleomorphic calcifications are examples of lesions that should be placed in BI-RADS 5.

BI-RADS 5 contains lesions for which one-stage surgical treatment could be considered without preliminary biopsy.

However, current oncologic management may require percutaneous tissue sampling as, for example, when sentinel node imaging is included in surgical treatment or when neoadjuvant chemotherapy is administered.

BI-RADS 6

Known Biopsy Proven Malignancy. Appropriate Action Should Be Taken

BI-RADS 6 is reserved for lesions identified on the imaging study with biopsy proof of malignancy prior to definitive therapy.

This category was added to the classification because sometimes patients are treated with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy.

During the course of the treatment the tumor may be less visible, while still you know you are dealing with cancer (figure).

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